Medication Policy

Pine Island Public School Medication Policy:
The purpose of this policy is to set forth the provisions that must be followed when administering non-emergency prescription medication to students at school and school activities. The School District acknowledges that some students may require prescribed drugs or medication during the school day. The School District’s licensed school nurse, health office nurse, trained health clerk, principal, unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs), or teacher will administer prescribed medications in accordance with law and School District procedures.

For the safety of students, it is recommended that medication be given at home whenever possible. For example, medication prescribed three times a day can be given before school, after school and at bedtime.

If medication must be given during school hours, we want you to be aware of the following tips for taking medications at school:

School personnel can only give medication with the written order of a health care provider that is licensed to prescribe and the written consent of a parent/guardian.

Medication must be brought to school in a container labeled by the pharmacy. The following information must be on the label:

Child's full name

Name and dosage of medication

Time and directions for administration

Licensed Prescriber's name

Current date

Medications should be brought to school by a parent/guardian or a responsible adult. If there is medication remaining after treatment or at the end of the school year, please make arrangements for it to be picked up.

Ask the pharmacist to put the medication in two containers, one for school and one for home.

Mixed dosages in a single container will not be accepted for use at school (for example, 5 mg and 10 mg tablets in the same bottle).

All medication administered at school will be kept in a locked drawer, cabinet or file (except when a student has permission to carry their medicine with them. See #11 below).

Parent/guardian must notify the school in writing when the medication is discontinued.

Over-the-counter medications must be in the original container with dosing recommendations visible. Secondary (Grades 5-12) students may be considered to self-administer non-prescription pain medication that does NOT contain ephedrine if the parent submits written authorization annually and the medication is brought to school in a properly labeled bottle. Parents must complete and sign a Medication Authorization for their child to take over the counter medications at school. The privilege to self medicate can be revoked at anytime if unsafe use of medication is observed.

It is the joint responsibility of the parent/guardian, student, and school personnel to see that the medication is given at the right time.

Students can carry medicine with them (for example, an asthma rescue inhaler) if they have written consent from parent/guardian and health care and the health office staff has met with the student and checked that they can safely and successfully carry their own medicine.

Licensed School Nurses will write a plan for giving emergency medicines (Epipen, Diastat, glucagon, etc.) after assessing the student's needs, consulting with the parent/guardian and health care provider, and providing appropriate training.

Medications that remain unclaimed or cannot be returned to a parent/guardian will be destroyed at the end of the school year.